Machine for dispensing tape



Nov. 23, 1954 A. P. Kaul-:GER 2,695,057

` MACHINE FOR DISPENSNG TAPE Filed Aug. l, 1952 -2 Sheets-Sheet l N`ov. 23, 1954 A. P. KRUEGER 2,695,057

MACHINE FOR DISFENSING TAPE Filed Aug. l, 1952v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 f2? Vez? z/'Oza /ffeaf P Krueger Tornei V6' United States Patent O MACHINE FOR DISPENSING TAPE Alfred P. Krueger, Stratford, Conn., assignor to Derby Sealers, Incorporated, Derby, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application August 1, 1952, Serial No. 302,145 18 Claims. (Cl. 164-39) This application relates to tape-dispensing machines and more particularly to a machine for dispensing pressure-sensitive tape. Such tape is tacky or clingable upon one surface so that it will adhere to the surface of an article upon which it is pressed with a certain amount of pressure. On account of its tacky nature the serving or dispensing of tape of this kind has been attended with certain problems.

Prior machines of this type have been generally of two kinds. In one kind of such machines the tape is drawn from the supply roll manually by being engaged with the ngers and pulled from the roll.' In the other type of machines for dispensing tape the tape is drawn rom the supply roll by its adherence to a feeding device, the feeding device being moved for this purpose. In the present instance the feeding device is a feeding roll, and this roll is rotated to draw the tape from the machine. As indicated, this is a device of the second type above referred to in that it is adapted to draw the tape from the supply roll by movement of a lever or the like which is operated manually, the movement of the lever serving to rotate the feed roll to which the tape adheres.

In a dispensing mechanism of the type illustrated in the present application it is desirable that the movement of the lever by the operator not only serve to dispense a proper length of tape but also serve to sever the dispensed portion of the tape and support this severed portion with a portion or free end in extended position so that it may be readily grasped by the operator in a convenient manner to be applied to a package or other article.

In the present invention a device is provided which will dispense a given length of pressure-sensitive tape by drawing the tape from the supply roll, severing it, and delivering the severed porlion to such a position that it may be readily grasped by the operator in a manner in which it may be conveniently applied to a package. Moreover, the length of tape which has been severed will be supported by the device only at its severed end, the remainder of the severed portion projecting from the machine whereby it may be freely grasped.

In the present device a feed roll is provided to draw the tape from the supply roll, and the tape is stripped from the feed roll before being severed. This is a departure from the operation performed by certain prior devices in which the tape is held by the feeding device during the severing operation.

Also in the present mechanism the feed roll is rotated during the feeding operation, but at the end of this operation this roll is restrained against rotation and moved bodily with respect to the severing member or knife so as to carry the tape over the edge of the knife in order to sever it. At the same time the tape is gripped upon both sides adjacent the knife so that it will be cleanly severed.

It may also be noted that the knife is guarded so that there is no danger of its being contacted by the fingers of the operator. This guard member for the knife serves as one of the gripping members to grip the tape at one surface thereof and also serves as the tape-end-supporting member which supports the severed portion of the tape with its free end extending in position to be grasped bythe operator.

One object of the invention is to provide a novel apparatus for dispensing pressure-sensitive tape.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device for dispensing pressure-sensitive tape suchn that a preor severing blade determined length of tape will be drawn from a supply roll, severed, and delivered in a position in which it projects from the machine, and hence may be readily grasped by the operator.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device 'or dispensing pressure-sensitive tape, which device will draw a predetermined length of tape from a supply roll by forward movement of a lever or similar manually operated element, and by a continued movement of this element cut or sever the dispensed length of tape while discontinuing the rotation of the feed roll during the severing operation.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a tape-feeding a length of tape from a supply roller is rotated during the bodily toward a severing member in order to present the tale to the severing member at a point adjacent the ro er.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a tape-dispensing machine of the character described above in which provision is made for stripping the tape from the feeding roller so that it will project forwardly from the machine, and after the severing operation a freely extending end will be presented where it may be readily grasped by the operator.

To these and other ends the invention consists in the novel features and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view mechanism embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View on line 3 3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. l but showing the mechanism in the position occupied by the parts at the end of the feeding operation;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but showing the parts in the position occupied by them at the end of a severing operation; and

` 7 7 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 7 1s a sectional view on line To illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention I have shown a tape-dispensing mechanism comprising a frame having an upstanding portion 10 and a horizontally disposed base portion 11. Upon the upstanding portion of the frame is rotatably mounted a hub or spool 12 for supporting a supply roll of tape 13, the hub being mounted upon a fixed spindle 14 secured to the frame member 10.

A gear 15 is rotatably mounted upon the spindle 14, the gear being secured to a sleeve 16 which in turn is rotatably carried by the spindle. As shown more particularly in Figs. l, 5 and 6, this gear is provided with a continuous series of teeth 17.

The hub 12 may be provided helically formed serrations 19 which the supply of tape 13 is carried will tend to work inwardly toward the frame 10 and not tend to work outwardly off the end of the hub. As will also be noted, the gear 15 is mounted between the hub 12 and the frame member 10. Also pivotally or rotatably mounted upon the spindle 14 is a lever or carrier member 20 which, as shown particularly in Figs. l and 5, extends upon both sides of the spindle 14 and is normally urged in a clockwise direction by a spring 21 secured at one end to the lever and secured at the other end to a pin 22 secured in the frame member 10.

Upon the upper end of this a feed roll 23 and a stripper roll 24. As shown more particularly in Fig. 7 each of these rolls is provided with a plurality of spaced feeding disks knurled on their peripheral edges, the disks 24 of the stripper roll extending between the disks 23' of the feed roll so as to strip the tape from the latter when the two rolls are rotated. As shown in Fig. 5 the tape designated at 25 extends from the supply roll 13 over the feed roll 23 where its tacky surface engages and adheres to the of a tape-dispensing upon its surface with so that the spool upon lever is rotatably mounted disks 23'.

mechanism having a feed roll to drawl A pino'n-27 is seei'red to lthe shaft of the feed roll 23 anda similar pinion 28 although smaller -in size is secured to the shaft of the -vstripper roll 24. The teeth of each of these pinions are in engagement with the teeth of the large-fulcrum gear 1'5 so, as will beobvious, when the lever 20 is moved labout its axis on the spindle 14, the pinions 27and V28 will move over the teeth of the fulcrum gear and the feed roll 23 and stripper roll 24 will be frotated. As the pinion 24 is of smaller size and Lhas a smaller lnurriber Yof teeth than the pinion 23, it will be rotatedat -a faster surface speed which is desirable in order that the tape not only be stripped from the feed roll 23 but that the stripper roll 24 by its greater surface speed strips itself from the tape so as to leave Ya freej end in extending position, as shown, for example, in Fig. 5.

The fulcrumugear 15 is normally held against rotation bythe tooth 29 of a pawl member 30 pivoted at 31 to the frame member 10. This pawl member is normally urged towardt-hegear by `a spring 32 secured at one end to the member 30 and at its other end to a -pin 33 fixed in the frame.

Secured to the lower end of the ylever is a spring pawl member 34 which rides over the teeth of the gear 15 when the lever 20 is moved in a counter-clockwise or tape-feeding direction but which, when the lever 20 is moved in the opposite direction by the spring 21, serves to rotate the fulcrum gear 15 in a clockwise direction, this rotation, of course, being permitted by the .pawl 29, which will permit the gear teeth to slide freely thereby in this direction. Upon the lower end of the pawl is a lug 35 which, as shown in Fig. 5, is designed to be engaged by a laterally extending portion 36 on the lower end of the lever 2f) so as to move the finger 29 out of engagement with the gear teeth V17 and permit the latter to rotate as will be hereinafter explained.

At the outer end of the lever 20 is an L-shaped member having a laterally extending -portion and an outwardly extending portion 41, 'the latter being adapted to be engaged bythe lingers of the peratorto draw the lever forwardly in a tape-feeding direction from the position shown iu Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 5, for example. Seeured to the inner surface of the member 40 is a tape-engaging member v42 which serves to engage the upper `surface of the tape as it is stripped from the feed roll 23 and also engage the upper surface of the tape during the severing operation shown in Fig. 6. Secured to the forwardly extending portion 41 of the L-shaped member at the end of the lever 4) is a tapeengaging member 43 vwhich also serves to engage the upper or non-'tacky 'surface `of Vthe tape during a severing operation. "It will be noted `that the free ends of the members '42 and 43 are spaced apart so as to leave room for 'the knife or severing rne'rriber to be hereinafter described vto enter between 'them and sever the tape cleanly while the lat'teriishelid against movement on both sides of the knife by the edges yof these members.

At the frontend of the 'frame 10 `is a channel-shaped guide member 45, and -t'o this memberis secured an upstanding knife or severing `member `46, the free end of which may be slightly inclined 'and serrated, as shown at 47 in Fig. 2, A guard m'ember'48'is`sl1dably carried in the channel-shaped guide member 45., thisguard member being provided with a slot 49 within which is received a pin V50, Vwhich pi'n is secured to the member 45. One end of a spring 51 is secured to this pin and the other end is secured to a lug'SZ at the lower end o f the guard member 48 so as 'to maintain this member in its upper position shown, for example, in Figs. 1 and 2. lt will be understood, however, that the guard member 48 may bepressed downwardlyuafgainst 'the tension of the spring 51. Secured at the upper end4 of the guard member 48 is a plate 53 so as to give this member a wider supporting surface at its upper end to support a severed end of the tape, as shown in Fig. 6.

The member is secured to the framernember `10 by means of an L- haped bracket 55, Vand to the face of this bracket is secured a 'guide member 56, which together with the bracket 55 forms a guideway 57 for a sliding detent or pawl member v58 having a laterally projecting tooth 59 at its upper "erid, The p awl member 58 is urge upwardly to the position shown in Fig. 1 b ya spring 60 secured to the base member 11 at 61 and having its other end engaging the lower surface of the 'pawl member 53. It will be apparent that as the lever 20 is moved forwardly and downwardly, the teeth of the pinion 28 will be engaged by the finger or tooth 59, and the pinion and stripper roll 24 be thereby prevented from rotation. This will occur during a severing operation as will be hereinafter explained.

The normal position of the parts is shown in Fig. l where, as will be seen, the pin 33 will limit the movement of the lever 20 in a clockwise direction. If desired, a number of openings 62 may be provided in the frame member 10 in which the pin may be inserted to variously limitY the movement of the lever 20 in this direction so as to vary the length of tape dispensed by the machine.

With the parts in the position shown in Fig. l the operator presses downwardly on the extending portion 41 of the lever 20 and moves the lever to the position shown in Fig. 5. During this movement of the lever the gear 15 is held against movement by the pawl 29 and the feed roll and stripper roll are caused to rotate by reason of engagement of the teeth of the pinions 27 and 28 with those of the gear 15 which is stationary during this time. When the lever 20 reaches the position shown in Fig. 5 the laterally extending lug 36 engages the tail portion 35 of the pawl 30 and raises the tooth 29 of the pawl from engagement with the teeth of the fulcrum gear 15, as shown in Fig. 5. Thereafter the gear 15 will be free to rotate about the spindle 14, and the rotation of the feed roll and stripper roll will then cease.

The feeding operation has now been completed and a free end of the tape will extend from the machine, as shown at A in Fig. 5. Further movement of the lever 20 downwardly or in a counter-clockwise direction will cause the stripper roll and feed roll to move bodily with the gear 15, but these rolls will no longer rotate. Upon a further downward movement of the lever 20 the member 43 will engage the upper surface of the guard member 48 and cause this member to be depressed from the position shown in Fig. 5 to that shown in Fig. 6 At the saine time the `finger 59 at the upper end of the detent 5S will be engaged by the teeth of the pinion 28. This will positivelyprevent any rotation of the stripper and feed rolls vduring the severing operation and will also depress the detent 58 to the position shown in Fig. 6 against the tensionof the spring 6).

When the lever y2i) has been `brought to the position shown in Fig. '6 it will be seen that the guard member 48 has been carried downwardly beyond the upper seversevering member 46 and the tape will have been severed while its upper surface is being vheld against the spaced edges of the members 42 and 43, and its lower surface against the guard member 48 so that the tape will be well supported against movement during the severing operation. The lever 20 will then be released and will be moved in a clockwise direction by the spring v21. The guard member 48 will be moved upwardly to its normal position shown in Fig. l and Fig. 5, and will carry with it the severed end of the tape A as shown in Fig. 1, which vit strips from the severing meniber, the rear lend of the tape being adhered to the upper surface of the v`guard member so it will be conveniently presented to 'the operator in a position for the operator to grasp and apply it lto a package or the like.

Also during the rearward or clockwise movement of the lever 20 the spring pawl member 34 will engage the teeth of the fulcrum gear 15 and rotate this gear in 'a clockwise direction along with the lever 20. This will prevent rearwardrotation of the feed roll 23 during this return movement of the lever 20 as it would, of course, be 'objectionable to permit reverse 'rotation of the feed roll. The parts a're ynow in a position for a subsequent operation.

While I have shown and described a preferred vembodiment of my invention, it will be understood that it is not to be limited 'to all of the details shown, but is capable of modification and variation within the spirit of the invention and within the scope of the claims.

What I claim is:

1. A mechanism for dispensing pressure-sensitive tape from a supply roll comprising a frame, a severing member carried by the frame, a rotatable tape-feeding member 'to the surface of'whicli the tape adheres, means for rotating said member to effect forward feeding of the tape, comprising a gear rotatably mounted on the frame, a pinion connected to the feeding member and meshing with said gear, the severing member being yfixed on the frame,

to which the pinion is secured 4willy means for effecting relative movement of said gear and pinion to rotate the latter and the feeding member, and means for thereafter moving said gear and -pinion as a unit to advance the tape against the severing member.

2. A mechanism for dispensing pressure-sensitive tape from a supply roll ber carried by the frame, a rotatable tape-feeding member to the surface of which the tape adheres, means for rotating said member to effect forward feeding of the tape, said severing member being fixed on the frame, and means for moving said feeding member and the tape adhering thereto toward the severing member to sever the tape while holding the feeding member against rotation.

3. A device for dispensing pressure-sensitive tape comprising tape-feeding means including a movable tapeadvancing member to which the tape adheres, movable striping means to strip the tape from said member,

severing means, and means to move said member and stripping means to feed a length of tape and strip it from said member, and means to thereafter effect relative movement between said severing means and said tape-advancing member without feeding additional tape to effect severance of the stripped portion.

4. A mechanism for dispensing pressure-sensitive tapefrom a supply roll comprising a frame, a severing member carried by the frame, a rotatable tape-feeding member to the surface of which the tape adheres, means for rotating said member to effect forward feeding of the tape, means for effecting relative movement of said severing means and said feeding member with the tape adhering thereto while holding the feeding member against rotation to sever the dipensed portion of the tape, and means for clamping said tape adjacent the severing means during the severing operation. l

5. A mechanism for dispensing pressure-sensitive tape from a supply roll comprising a frame, a severing member carried by the frame, a rotatable tape-feeding member to the surface of which the tape adheres, means for rotating said member to effect forward feeding of the tape, means for effecting relative movement of said severing means and said feeding member with the tape adhering thereto while holding the feeding member against rotation to sever the dispensed portion of the tape, and clamping members engaging opposite faces of the tape during the severing operation.

6. A mechanism for dispensing pressure-sensitive tape from a supply roll comprising a frame, a severing member carried by the frame, a rotatable tape-feeding member to the surface of which the tape adheres, means for rotating said member to eifect forward feeding of the tape, means for effecting relative movement of said severing means and said feeding member with the tape adhering thereto while holding the feeding member against rotation to sever the dispensed portion of the tape, and clamping members engaging opposite faces of the tape during the severing operation, one of said members serving as a guard for the severing member.

7. A mechanism for dispensing pressure-sensitive tape from a supply roll comprising a frame, a severing member carried by the frame, a rotatable tape-feeding member to the surface of which the tape adheres, means for rotating said member to effect forward feeding of the tape, means for effecting relative movement of said severing means and said feeding member with the tape adhering thereto while holding the feeding member against rotation to sever the dispensed portion of the tape, spaced tape-engaging members to engage one surface of the tape on both sides of said severing member, and an additional member to engage the other face of the tape opposite one of said tape-engaging members to clamp the tape therebetween.

8. A mechanism for dispensing pressure-sensitive tape from a supply roll comprising a frame, a severing member carried by the frame, a rotatable tape-feeding member to the surface of which the tape adheres, means for rotating said member to effect forward feeding of the tape, said severing member being xed to the frame, means for advancing said feeding member and effecting rotation thereof to draw the tape from the supply roll, and means for thereafter advancing said feeding member toward the severing member to sever the tape while holding the feeding member against rotation.

9. A mechanism for dispensing pressure-sensitive tape from a supply roll, said mechanism comprising a frame,

comprising a frame, a severing memfrom asupply roll, said mechanism comprising a frame,-

a severing member mounted thereon, a fulcrum gear roto the axis of said gear, a tape-feeding roll rotatably mounted on said lever to which the free end of the tape adheres, a pinion connected to said roll and meshing with said gear, means for advancing said lever while holding the gear against rotation to rotate the feeding roll and draw tape from the supply roll, and means for thereafter advancing said feeding lever and gear as a unit to carry the tape against the severing member while holding the feeding roller against rotation.

l1. A mechanism for dispensing pressure-sensitive tape from a supply roll, said mechanism comprising a frame, a severing member mounted thereon,l a fulcrum gear rotatably mounted on the frame, a lever member pivoted to the axis of said gear, a tape-feeding roll rotatably mounted on said lever to which the free end of the tape adheres, a pinion connected to said roll and meshing with gear against rotation in a 12. A mechanism for dispensing pressure-sensitive tape from asupply roll, said mechanism comprising a frame,

13. A mechanism f or dispensing pressure-sensitive tape from'a supply roll, said mechanism comprising a frame, a

supply roll, and means on said lever to engage said holding means after a predetermined advance of the lever to release said holding means and permit said gear to rotate during a continued advance of the lever to move the tape against the severing member.

14. A mechanism for dispensing pressure-sensitive tape from a supply roll, said mechanism comprising a frame, a sevegling member mounted thereon, a fulcrum gear rotata y ed on said lever to which the free end pinion connected to said roll and meshing with said gear, means for advancing said lever and holding said gear against rotation in a forward direction to effect rotation of the feeding roller to draw tape from the supply roll, means on said lever to engage said holding means after a predetermined advance of the lever to release said holding means and permit said gear to rotate during a continued advance of the lever to move the tape against the severing member, a spring to return said lever to its initial position, and means on said lever to effect rotation of the gear ca rry the tape against the severing member withegeusgos'r in areverse direction duringfsaid returnA movement of the everi .15. -Al mechanism for dispensing pressure=sensitivetape from a supply` roll, .said mechanism comprising Ya frame, Vva severing member `mounted thereon, a .fulcrums gear. rotatably mounted on the frame, aI lever member pivoted to the axis of saidlgear, a tape-feeding roll-rotatably mounted on said leverrto which the free end of the tapcfadhere's, a pinion connected to -sai'd roll and meshingwith saidgear, means for "advancing said flever -while holding -the ,gear against rotation to1rotate`-the=feeding rollanddrawvtape fromthe supply'roll, means for thereafteradvancing said feeding lever Vand gear Vasa/unit tolcarry the tape against the severing member without effecting Yrotationfof vthe feeding roll, andstr1ppervrneanscarried-,by said`lever to v strip the tape fromthe feeding roll.

16. AY mechanism-fordi'spensing pressure-sensitive tape from a supply rOILSaid-.mechanism comprising a.frame,a severing member mounted thereon, a fulcmmgear rotatablymounted onvthe frame, a lever memberpivoted to the -f axis of` said gear, a tapefeeding rollirotatablyxmounted on said lever to which thefreelendy of theltape adheres, a pinion connected tosaid*Y roll andmeshingwithsaid gear, means for advancing .-sadlever Whilefholding the gear against rotation to rotatethe feedingiroll -anddraw 'tape from the supply roll, means for" thereafter advancing said feeding lever and gear as aI unit to carry the tape against the severing member withoutetfectin'g rotation of-y the feeding roll, strippcrmeans carried-by'saidv-levervto strip thetape from the feeding roll, `said stripper-meanscomprising a stripping roller-rotatably mounted on thelever, and apinion secured to saidroller'and meshingiwith said fulcru'm ear. g 17. A mechanism for-dispensing'pressure-sensitive tape from a supplyroll, said mechanismY comprising aframe, a severing member lmounted thereon, -a fulcrumf gear Arotatably mounted on theframe, a lever member pivoted to the axis of said gear,'a tape-feeding roll rotatablyrmounted on said lever to which he free end of the tape adheres, a pinion connected` to. saidrollend meshing with said-gear, means Vfor advancing said -lever while holding the gear against rotation to rotatethe feeding' rollanddraw'tape tapev from the feeding roll,.sa1dstripper means comprising a stripping roller rotatably mounted onthe lever, a pinion secured to said roller and meshing lwith said fulcrum gear, andfa detent mounted on theframe and engaging the pinion-of sailstrippe'r.` roller at apredetermined point in the =advance of` said leverto .prevent'rotation thereof.

18. A mechanism for dispensing'pressure-sensitive tape from a supply'roll, said'mechanism comprising'a'frame, a severing member mounted thereon, a fulcrumi gear rotatably mounted on the frame, a lever member pivoted tothe axis of said;gea`r,a*tape-feeding roll rotatably'mounted onsaid lever to-which: the free .end of the tapevadheres, a pinion connectedl to said roll and meshing with said gear, means for advancing said lever while holding the gear against rotationtozrotatethe feeding roll and draw tape from'the supplyV roll; means forfthereafter advancing said feeding leverand, gear -asfaunit to*l carry the tape against the severing member without effecting rotation of. the feeding'roll, stripper means carried by -saidlever to strip the tape from the feeding roll, saidstripper means comprising a stripping roller rotatably: mounted on the lever, a pinion secured to said roller -andmeshing Vwithsaid fulcrurn gear, a detent mounted on the frame `and engaging the pinion of said stripper roller 'at apredetermined` point in the advance ofgsaid llever to prevent rotationl thereof, and said detent ybeing movably mounted on-the frame to move with said ieveriduring'movement ofI the'tape against the severing member.

ReferencesCitedl inthe tile of this .patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 22,981 Fitch 1 Mar. 9, 1948 2,188,473 Diskerman...^ Jan. r30, 1940 2,290,223 Black etal. s July 21, 1942 2,342,049 I-Iolmbeck 'Feb. 15, 1944 2,573,911 Kreuger Nov. 6, 1951 

